BIG GOLD BELT MEDIA AT PAX EAST 2025 !

This year marked my second time attending PAX East, and it turned out to be extra special. Unlike my previous visit as a regular guest, this time I had the incredible opportunity to attend as a media content creator. Let’s say the experience was hectic, but in the best way possible! As a Twitch streamer and someone who has loved video games since childhood, it was amazing to connect with industry professionals, discover incredible indie games, and share these moments with the Big Gold Belt Media audience. 

Pax East is a massive annual gaming convention held in Boston, Massachusetts, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. This event was created as a celebration of all things gaming and gaming culture, featuring panels, expo halls showcasing the biggest publishers, studios, tournaments, and game demos. With its growing popularity, it has become one of the largest gaming expos on the East Coast.

Wizards of the Sword Coast was promoting the newest FINAL FANTASY™ and their Magic: The Gathering®—FINAL FANTASY™. I attended both a panel and a press conference to dive deeper into these exciting updates. Dead by Daylight also returned, and I had the privilege of having an exclusive PAX interview with Mathieu Côté, Game Director of the game. PAX East is also known for spotlighting indie games, and this year was no exception. I got hands-on with Nocturne for some gameplay, Additionally, Bandai Namco had a booth for the Elden Ring. which showed exclusive gameplay for NightRegin.

Chat with Mathieu Côté: Game Director of Dead by Daylight

Even though I’m not really into horror games, I have a very personal soft spot for Dead by Daylight. When I first started streaming on Twitch back in 2018, Dead by Daylight was one of the first games I streamed, especially during the Halloween and fall season. I was a Meg main, running around trying to fix generators and trying not to die at the hands of The Huntress. Through this game, I met a lot of my online friends, and we’re still gaming together to this day.

So, having the opportunity to talk to Mathieu Côté was amazing, and I want to give a huge shout-out to the Dead by Daylight team for making it happen on such short notice.

It is so incredible to see how the game that I played for hours back in 2018 has evolved with new survivors, killers, and they are keeping this momentum going with five upcoming releases, which include the upcoming Five Nights at Freddy’s collaboration. Also, it’s so funny to hear that the game director is scared of horror movies! He loves playing as the killer rather than a survivor—honestly, I can totally relate.

Full Interview coming soon to YOUTUBE!

An Exclusive Look at Elden Ring: NightRegin

I might be a little late since Elden Ring Nightregin released yesterday, but at the time, I was super excited to see Bandai Namco on the showroom floor. It was one of the most visually intriguing booths on the floor, since it was designed as a dome with the NightRegin logo displayed on it. Once a friend pointed it out to me, I knew I had to see it for myself, and let’s just say, I was not disappointed.

Just like everyone in 2022, I played Elden Ring and, after many times of raging at boss fights and threats of not playing this game anymore cause it was too hard (this was also my first Soulsborne game), I finally beat the game and became the Elden Lord. This game became one of my favorite games. And I am currently doing a playthrough on my YouTube channel. 

So as a fan, I had to check out this booth. Upon entering the dome, I was greeted with a theater-like setup featuring a massive screen. The booth showcased live gameplay, playing the game was member of the Elden Ring playtest team, Twitch and YouTube content creator Parky (aka Parkenharbor)  known for streaming Elden Ring, Lies of P, Sekiro, and other Soulsborne games Along with live announcers going over everything live on the screen and leading the demonstration. 

An attendee was also given a chance to play alongside them, but I did not volunteer because I did not want to embarrass myself in front of a crowd, rolling away a bunch of times and then dying from random enemies in the world. The person they did pick was cosplaying as Wyll the Blade of Frontiers, and they were skilled at the game and did put up a good fight alongside the professionals.

It was incredible to watch the live gameplay on the big screen, especially with the inclusion of a never-before-seen boss fight. Being surrounded by fellow fans of the game gave the vibe of being at a live sporting event. Collectively cheering during victories and groaning when a team member was down. 

To make it even more exciting, if the players managed to defeat the final boss, everyone in attendance would receive a free t-shirt stating “I beat the Elden boss.” Although we didn’t beat the boss and missed out on the free shirts, we still walked away with free lanyards, which was a nice consolation prize.

Discovering Nocturne: A Rhythm-based RPG

A rhythm-based RPG is a unique concept and something I had never encountered before, so it was very exciting to check out Nocturne from Pracy Studios. I have never really played Guitar Hero or Rock Band, so this was a new experience for me. Although it was a bit rough at first, since I’m not used to these types of games, I did manage to pick up the controls quickly after getting used to them.

One of the main things I did in the demo was learning the combat style, which was a very similar setup to Guitar Hero, with the hero gaining power to attack the enemy when you hit the notes correctly. One thing I loved about this game was the art style. It has a nostalgic, old-school vibe that adds to its charm. 

If you’ve been missing games like Rock Band or Guitar Hero, or if you’re looking for a new spin on rhythm-based gameplay, Nocturne is worth checking out on Steam

Full Interview coming soon to YOUTUBE!

Final Fantasy Meets Magic: The Gathering

One of the most talked-about panels at PAX EAST was the collaboration event between Final Fantasy and Magic: The Gathering. 

This event was massive, featuring a booth on the show floor complete with photo opportunities for attendees! But the main attraction was the panel held in the main theater at the Boston Convention Center, During this presentation, Hasbro’s Wizards of the Coast gave fans an exciting sneak peek into Magic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy™, showcasing bold characters, beloved stories, and stunning artwork from one of gaming’s most beloved franchises.

The panel was hosted by Ben Starr, the voice behind Clive Rosfield from Final Fantasy XVI. He was joined by the creative team behind this collaboration: Gavin Verhey, Zakeel Gordon, Daniel Holt, and Dillon Deveny.

More special guests came on the stage, which included professional wrestlers and Final Fantasy fans Kenny Omega and Adam Cole, as well as Karen Fukuhara from The Boys, hosting a fun trivia game with some fans of the series. 

The presentation took attendees on a journey through Final Fantasy’s rich history, revealing new cards spanning the franchise from the original game to Final Fantasy XVI. While it’s impossible to include every detail here, Magic: The Gathering has uploaded the full panel to their YouTube channel for fans to watch.

 

I also attended an in-person conference with the lead team behind this project. It was heartwarming to see how genuinely excited they were for fans to experience the game. When asked, they shared stories about their favorite cards and expressed their passion for the project. 

As someone who hasn’t played much Magic: The Gathering recently, my knowledge of the game is limited, and I have not played  Final Fantasy. I loved the team’s dedication and the excitement from the fans. This made me want to pick up Magic: The Gathering again and give it a try, and play some of the Final Fantasy games. 

The upcoming Universes Beyond Magic set will be launching June 13, and the set is available for preorder now at local game stores, online retailers, and anywhere Magic products are sold.